Radiographic equipment



@m. M, 1952 A. WRIGHT 22,614,224

RADIOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT Filed May 25. 1948 3 Sheets-Sneet l 57 INVENTORA'fir/m? W/P/GHT mm? Maw 1M, 45' 7M] ATTORNEYS 3952 A. WRIGHT ,61

RADIOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT Filed May 25. 1948 3 Sheets-Sneet 2 @Cit. 3.41,1952 WRIGHT RADIOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 25. 1948 Tmm W E P V U Patented et. 14, 1952 UNlTED STATES RADIOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENTthur Wright, Mountain Lakes, N. 3., assignor to Wright EngineeringCompany, Mountain Lakes, N. J a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationMay 25, 1948, Serial No. 29,087

(Cl. 250-G4) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to radiographic equip" ment and particularly toX-ray apparatus for diagnostic photography.

More particularly this invention relates to radiographic equipment ofthe general character disclosed in United States Patent 2,295,975 issuedSeptember 15, 1942 and embodies improvements over the radiographicequipment therein din closed.

One object or" the invention is a novel and improved means forfacilitating the centering and positioning of the subject with respectto the target and the film.

A further object of the invention is a novel and improved scale mountand means for the equipment.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings wherein 1 is a side View of an X-ray apparatusembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of a part thereof looking in the direction of the arrow2 of Fig. 1;

F'g. 3 is a bottom view of the focusing unit, partly broken away;

lis enlarged View of the scale and index used for determining the areaof exposure;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the scale elements;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged View of a part of the focusing and centering unitshown in section;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view through the scale and scale mount;

Fig. 8 a view of one side of the centering means looking the directionof the arrow 8 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a section along the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawin s, I have illustrated my invention as applied toan X-ray apparatus generally of conventional character including a table22, an upright i and a vertically adjustable cross arm or cross an s Eand an X-ray tube housing 8. The table 2 is provided with a suitablerecess for the reception of a sensitized plate or film 3 example, beingprovided with a slot or the like for the reception of the film 3. Ascale it provided on the upper portion of the upright t gives, inconjunction with an indicator on a support l i for the supporting arm 6,the vertical distance between the target and the film, the target beingschematically illustrated at l8. The supporting or arms 6 are trunnionedat their inner ends in the support it for movement in horizontal planes.

In addition to the PEI-ray tube 8 and target 68, etc. the arms 5 carry ashallow cylindrical ho i2 therebeneath and in line with the target it othe X-ray tube. In the particular embedshown the housing 62 is spacedfrom the by a hollow, square adapt er-nerhber o1- casing i2 which is ofsmaller lateral dimensions than that of the housing 52 and is integrallyformed therewith. The memphragm for varying the opening therethroughf Inthe particular embodiment shown the housing contains a conventional irisdiaphragm ill but it is understood that any other suitable aperturecontrol may be used. The diaphragm aperture or openingis controlled by aring 25 having a portion of the outer edge thereof formed into gearteeth 25. A gear 28 is mounted in the casing and meshes with the gearteeth 26', the gear being mounted on the shaft 39 having a knurled knob32 for operating the ring 25 and therefore the diaphragm for controllingthe diaphragm aperture. The diaphragm elements, namely the sheets orleaves of the iris diaphragm, are preferably of lead or other materialimpervious to X- rays.

The cylindrical casin 82 is provided at diametrically opposite pointsthereof with downwardly depending supports 35 carrying trunnion pins 35for the ends of a bail-like light bracket member 32'. The latter isprovided with openings at its upper ends for receiving the trunnion pins36. The outer sides of the ends of the bail-like member S'l are milled01? to a depth approaching the thickness of the supporting parts 35. Thelatter are rounded off at their lower edges as shown in the drawing at35 to form cylindrical surfaces having radii to the center of thetrunnion pins 38, thereby permitting the free swinging of the bail-likemember 31 from a downwardly extending position to the horizontalposition or vice versa. Each of the supports 35 is provided with a pairof hardened steel inserts 33 with their inner ends flush with thesurfaces of the milled off sides of the ends of the bail-like member 3i.Each insert is provided with a locking recess 39 which is engaged by aball Gil mounted in a recess formed in an end 3? of the bail-like memberand containin a biasing spring ill. The hardened steel inserts 38 aredisposed from each other and are adapted to lock the light frame eitherin the downwardly extended position or in the horizontal position. Bothends 317' of the bail member 3? are provided with locking means 38, as,39.

This forms a shiftable centering light bracket. The member 9'? ishollowand is provided with a T extension comprising a tube 45 extendinggenerally centrally of the structure and a chamber 46' at right anglesthereto. A lamp holder 41 extends into the chamber from one end thereof,the holder having an enlarged end ll. The holder 47 itself is formedwitha chamber 48 and an incandescent lamp is is mounted therein as bymeans of a disc support til suitably fastened to the interior of theholder M. This lamp 49 is preferably prefocused and is mounted so as tohave the filament of the lamp centrally alined with the tubular partwith an opening in one side of the hollow holder 41 and in line with thefilament of the lamp 49. The holder 41 with the lamp 49 therein isinserted through the open end of the chamber 46 and is anchored inposition in any suitable manner as, for example, by a set screw 45screw-threadedly attached to the holder 41 and adapted to occupy thebayonet slot I02 formed in the wall of the chamber 46.

A lens 5| is carried near the outer end of the tubular extension 45 andthis lens is held in position by a holding ring 52. A nut 53 isscrewthreadedly attached in the opposite end of the chamber 46 forcarrying the lamp terminal. This nut is of insulating material as, forexample, fibre and is provided with an opening for the reception of apivot or pin 54. The inner end of the pivot pin 54 is attached in anysuitable manner to a spring contact member 55, the latter being bentinto U shape with one leg attached to the inner end of the pivot 54 andthe opposite leg 56 being resiliently biased and pressed against thecenter contact of the incandescent lamp 49. An electric current wire 51has one end electrically attached to the spring contact member and inthe embodment shown the end of the wire 51 and one leg of the springcontact member 55 are secured to the inner end of the pin 54 flatagainst each other and the inner surface of the plug nut 53.

The wire 51 extends into a socket formed in the J'ournaled end of oneside of the member 31 and containing an insulating sleeve 58. The wire51 is connected with the terminal 51 mounted in the sleeve 58. Ametallic sleeve 59 is disposed in the upper part of the insulatingsleeve 58 and in this sleeve a sliding brush or contact 68 is mountedfor making contact with the trunnion pin 36 and a spring 6I is disposedbetween the terminal 51 of the wire and the sliding contact 60 to causethe contact 66 to bear upon the periphery of the pin 36. The latter ishoused in an insulating sleeve 62 and the insulating sleeve 62 isprovided with a longitudinal slot 63 on one side thereby permitting thecontact member 60 to make contact with the pivot pin 36 when the bailmember is in its downward position. The contact of the incandescent lamphowever is automatically broken the moment the light bracket is i movedfrom its downward position since the contact 60 then rides upon theinsulating sleeve 62.

The trunnion pin 36 and its sleeve 62 are held against rotary movementby means of an in sulating sleeve 65 passing through an opening in asupport 35 from the interior of the casing I2 and extending into arecess formed in the upper part of a trunnion pin 36. A wire 66 disposedwithin the casing is connected with the pin 36 to complete the circuitto the electric lamp when the bail member 31 is in its downwardposition. This electric wire 66 passes down through the insulatingsleeve 65 and the end thereof is electrically connected with one wall ofthe recess 61 formed in the pin 36, a screw 68 being screwthreadedlymounted in a threaded opening formed in the end of pin 36 and engagingthe terminal of the wire 66 as indicated at 61' and pressing it incontact with the pin.

The casing containing the diaphragm is provided with a battery casing 10on one side thereof with the battery casing being disposed in parallelrelation with the trunnion pin 36. One end of the battery casing 10 isprovided with a battery cover H and batteries 12 are mounted inside thebattery casing. One end of the casing is provided with a metallic screw13 which extends into the casing and is provided with a metallic contact14. The metallic screw 13 and the contact pin 14 are insulated from thecasing by means of an inner insulating disc 15, an outer insulating disc16 and by the insulating sleeve 11. The electric wire 66 is connectedwith the contact 14. A spring 18 at the opposite end of the batterycasing functions to press the batteries into contact with each other andwith the central contact 13, 14 and at the same time makes electricalconnection with the central contact of the adjacent battery, therebygrounding the latter to the cover H.

The casing I2 is provided with a fixed scale 80, the scale beingattached in any suitable manner to the periphery of the casing as byscrews BI and located on the opposite side from the battery casing 16.This scale is preferably of metal which is fastened to the periphery bythe screws 8|. The movable scale or index is shown at and it is mountedin vertical position to traverse the fixed scale. The base for thismovable scale or index 85 is formed of a metallic strip, the outerportion of which carries the scale 85. This strip is formed with severalright angle bends to form a vertical elongated frame portion 86 for themovable index with the two ends of the strip being brought together toform an attaching means 81. The scale frame is mounted on the diaphragmadjusting ring 26, the fastening means or tongue 81 being illustrated asfastened to the upper side of the ring 26 near the periphery thereof bymeans of screws 88. The mounting and arrangement are such that theportion 86 of the movable scale frame surrounds and traverses thatportion or substantially all that portion of the cylindrical surface ofthe casing I2 carrying the fixed scale 80. The cylindrical arcuateportion of the cylinder I2 is indicated at 89 and the upper and lowersurfaces of the cylindrical casing I2 are provided with slots 90 and 9|respectively to permit the movable scale frame portion 86 to freelytraverse the scale 80 as the aperture adjusting ring 26 is moved.

The scales, except for differences in structure and different mountingsdo not differ substantially from those shown in the aforesaid patent.The curves of the fixed scale are omitted but the points of the curvesare included as indicated by the numbers appearing on the fixed scale.The curves through like numbers would approximate the curves of thescales of the patent. The scale is a substantial improvement over thatof the issued patent, however, in that it may be used with equalfacility for various sized films as, for example, 5 x 7, 8 x 10, 10 x12, 11 x 14, 7 x 17 and 14 x 17. The extreme vertical left-hand endscale, namely, 5, 8, 10, 11, '7 and 14 corresponds to the firstdimensions of standard films to be used. I have also included a verticalscale marked 9, 13, 16, 18, 19 and 22 to indicate the differentdiameters sufiicient to fully expose the corresponding film. Thevertical scale 22, 30, 36, 40, 48, 60, 72 and 84 indicates the distancefrom the target to the film. The Roman numerals of the scale indicatediameters only and have nothing to do with the film sizes themselves.The balance of the numbers corresponds to the numbers to the far left ofthe vertical. One example of the use of the scale is as follows.

Assuming a target film distance of 30 inches and the use Oi an 8 X 10film, full exposure is had if the sliding scale is moved to bring thefigure in coincidence with the number 8 on the fixed scale on the linewith the 30 mark. If it is desired, for example, to secure the 11-inchdiameter at the same target-to-film distance the moving scale is thenmoved to the Roman numeral XI for the same size film, that is the Romannumeral XI on the line with the 30-inch distance mark.

The points on the fixed scale may be determined in any suitable manneras, for example, empirically by any well known method. The scale whenonce made may be used for any conventional X-ray machine, assuming thedistance from target to the diaphragm to be the same. In most X-rayapparatus now in use the distance from target to the supporting crossarms is around 5 to 6 inches. If it is desired to use the same scale ondifferent machines, it is only necessary to calibrate the scale for asomewhat greater distance from the target to the top of the housing l2,etc. The adapter I2 may be of any suitable height and for differentdepths the scale should be calibrated according to the dimensions of themachine on which it is to be used.

The centering of the exposure exactly as required may be easily effectedby the structure and mechanism above set forth. When one is ready tocenter the exposure it is only necessary to exert sufiicient pressure onthe swingable light frame 31 to disengage the ball and detent lock 39and 4B which normally retains the frame in the horizontal or full-lineposition of Fig. 1. If the weight of the light frame 3'! is notsufficient in itself to swing down to the vertical position shown indotted lines in Fig. 1 it may manually be moved to that position and inthat position it is also locked by the ball 40 engaging the recess 39 inthe other insert 38 which holds the frame and the tube in exactalinement. In this position the lamp 49 is lighted by the mere act ofmoving the frame down to the vertical position. The circuit of the lampis completed through the conductor 66, the contact 61 in the trunnionpin 30, the ball or brush 36, the spring 6|, the connector 51', theconductor 51, the contact spring 55, a center contact of the base of thelamp 49 and the ground connection formed by the collar 49. With the lamp49 and the lens 51 projecting a spot of light upon the subject to bephotographed or upon the film 30 the exact centering may be effected forexposure. This may be effected with marked facility. After the centeringtakes place it is only necessary to snap the light frame 31 out of thelocked position and move it up to the horizontal position shown in fulllines in Fig. 1 whereupon the exposure may be made with the assurancethat the exact part of the subject is exposed and centrally of theexposed area.

The structure and mounting of the scales are characterized by markedsimplicity and economy in manufacture and in addition the scales are ofa character as above indicated to obtain the exact area of exposuredesired with any standard film.

The diaphragm elements 14 are mounted for adjustment between the annulargear member 26 and an annular metallic member I0 I, these members 26 and[0| being of any suitable metal as, for example, steel. The ring ml issupported by an annular ring I00 of lead. The diaphragm elements M areformed of lead preferably having their surfaces or faces formed of steelor the like.

While I have shown a conventional iris diaphragm for controlling theexposure aperture, it is understood that any other suitable control forthe aperture may be employed. When a diaphragm or control having arectangular or other non-circular aperture is used the scale iscalibrated either empirically or geometrically to give the desireddimensions of the exposed area of the film for different openings of thediaphragm.

I claim:

1. An attachment for an X-ray machine comprising a casing having meanstherein for controlling the exposure aperture, a bracket trunnioned toone side of the casing about an axis disposed a right angles to theX-ray beam, said bracket being movable from a horizontal to a verticalposition and carrying a light source centering means which is inalinement with the aperture and the target when in the verticalposition, and control means for energizing said light source comprisinga contact carried by the bracket in the vicinity of the trunnion, aninsulating sleeve about said trunnion and an opening in said sleevepermitting the contact to engage the trunnion when the lamp is in thecentering position.

2. An attachment for an X-ray machine comprising a casing and meanstherein for controlling the exposure aperture, said casing havbracketcarrying at the central portion thereof light source centering meanswhich is in alinement with the aperture and the target of the machinewhen the bracket is in the latter position, means for releasably lockingthe bracket in either of its positions but readily movable therefrom byapplying pressure to the bracket and control means for energizing saidlight source when in the centering position.

3. An attachment for an X-ray machine comprising a casing and meanstherein for controlling the exposure aperture, said casing havingbracket supports on the opposite sides thereof, a bail-like bracketpivoted in said bracket supports about an axis disposed at right anglesto the X-ray beam, said bracket being adapted to occupy a positionadjacent the casing and out of the path of the beam and a position atright angles thereto with the central portion of the bail-like bracketdisposed in the beam path, said bracket carrying at the central portionthereof light source centering means which is in alinement with theaperture and the target of the machine when the bracket is in the latterposition, means for releasably locking the bracket in either of itspositions but readily movable therefrom by applying pressure to thebracket and control means for energizing said light source when in thecentering position, comprising a switch control incorporated in one ofthe pivots.

ARTHUR WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,608,269 Freund Nov. 23, 19261,643,453 Holst Sept. 27, 1927 2,217,308 Cox Oct. 8, 1940 2,295,975Storm Sept. 15, 1942

